Vehicle structure



Nov. 13, 1934. F, E, DAYES 1,980,787

VEHICLE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 9, 1935 2 Sheet's-Sheet l m Vi mvamoe Fesozmcz E. DAYr-:s

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ATTOENEY F. E. DAYES VEHICLE STRUCTURE 2 sheets-sheet 2' Filed Aug. 9, 1933 I pefswoo du TE FEL T \HVENT*OEI FeEDEExcK EDAYES ATTOENEY Nov. l13, 1934.

IJUTE FELT Fig.

Patented Nov. 13, 1934 PATENT oFFicE VEHICLE STRUCTUREv l Frederick E. Dayes Philadelphia, Pa., assigner fo American Car and Foundry Motors Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation o! Delaware Application August 9, 1933, Serlal No.56Fl/54,1337y 3 claims.

The invention relates generally to vehicle structures, and more particularly to wall structures for buses. f

lIn the operation of buses, the shell or walls below the windows are bumped and damaged from time to time and much difficulty is experienced in making repairs because access cannot readily be had to the inner surfaces of the outer shell. Thevresult is that the dents and ldepressions made in the bus Wall are not removed and a comparatively new bus often presents the appearance of a mutilated vehicle in which the passengers do not have the confidence they should have, and which does not attract traffic.

An object ofthe invention is to provide a side wall structure for buses and other vehicles which may be readily removed. in part to give access to the outer shell of the bus or vehicle to permit workmen to remove dents and repair damaged portions.

The invention accordingly is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and comprises the feature of construction, combination of elements and arrangement Vof parts which will be exemplified inthe construction hereinafter set forth andthe scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims. Y

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a bus panel, viewing it from the inside, constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section of a bus panel taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section of a bus panel taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing details of a structure, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in horizontal section of a portion of a panel taken along the line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, and Figures 1 and 2 in particular, the portion of a bus wall illustrated comprises an outer shell or sheathing and a frame structure for supporting the sheathing. Metal plate, either steel or an aluminum alloy, is employed for the sheathing. l The gauge of the plate will depend on the conditions to be met. The shell of the average bus is fabricated from plate about si," thick.

The portion of the frame structure shown comprises a plurality of vertical body posts 11 and a (c1. zes-2s) belt rail 12. The body posts 11 may be, made of any desired cross-sectional shape provided they have a head 13 towhich the sheathing vmay be connected, and a flange 14 extending inwardly for carrying other members employed in the wall 0f' structure. The number vof body posts will depend on the design of the frame structure. The greater the strength required, the greater the number of posts 11 employed.,

Some of the body posts 11 will extend the full 6|,- height of the bus body, and carry the roof, while others may only. extend as high as the belt rail 12. The shape of the body posts in cross-section will depend on the conditions to be met. In this embodiment. of the invention a body post which is 7 VA'l'shaped in cross-section is employed. .The posts are preferably made from steel or an aluminum alloy which satisfies the conditions as to strength and weight. l

In bus structures in which the upper portion of the body is substantially all windows, as in the ordinary passenger bus, the body posts 11 may be utilized for carrying the window-frames and the nishing members provided to give the bus a good appearance. so

The sheathing 10 is connected to the heads 13 of the body posts in any suitable manner, such as by riveting, shown at 15. The spacing and size of the rivets will depend on the strength required.

The window sill 16 comprises an L-shaped angle-plate disposed with the short flange overlapping the sheathing 10 of the bus wall and the long fiange extending into a longitudinal groove 1'7 provided in the inner face of the belt rail 12. 90 'I'he short flange of the sill 16 is riveted to the sheathing as illustrated at 18.

The angle members 16 employed as windowsills may be made from any suitable material. Since they are exposed to the weather it is preferable to make them from some non-corrodible metal, such as aluminum.

As illustrated, the belt rail 12 is carried by angle-irons 19 riveted to thev flanges 14 of the body posts 11. 'I'his belt rail not only adds 100 greatly to the rigidity of the frame structure, but is employed as a finishing member for the window-sills 16.

In fabricating the belt rail any metal which has the required strength and which will take a 'good polish may be employed. Aluminum has been found satisfactory. When aluminum is employed the beltrail is made by a process of extrusion.

As illustrated, filler strips 20 and 21 are disup posed between the -body posts 11'. .the filler strip' being mounted in the corner between the window-sill 16 and the sheathing 10, while'the nller strip 21 is disposed near the noor 22. These filler strips may be made from some suitable insulating material, vsuch asl wood and their function will appear as the specincation proceeds. The lower-1111er strip. 21 is supported on angleirons 23 carried bythe body posts ll. This filler strip carries the upper flange of a z -shaped baseboard 24. The member 24 is termed a base-- board but is preferably made from sheet aluminum or some other metal that may be ilnished v to present a good appearance. i

Panels. shown generally at 25, are disposed between the body posts 11 below the window-sills 16. Each panel comprises a layer of insulating .material 26 which maybe made from any suitable material such as jute felt. This insulating material 26 serves toprevent the conduction of heat either into or out of the vehicle,and to damp out vibrations of the sheathing 10. The layer of insulating material 26 is carried by a finishing sheet or plate 2'1 which may be made from some suitable material such as preswood. The insulating layer and the finishing member 27 may be connected in any mannerwell known in the art, as by means of glue.

As illustrated, the upwardly extending iiange provided on the 1111er strip 21, the nner-strip 2o and the layer of insulating material 26, are all of substantially the same thickness. Y'I'he layer of insulating material 26 is made of the proper height to llt betweenthe ller strips 20 and 21 and of the proper width to seat between the heads of the body posts 11. Therefore, when the panel 25 isfplaced in position, the outer surface of the layer of insulating material 26 seats against the sheathing 10.

The finishing member 27 is slightly larger in area than the layer of insulating material 26 presenting at the top and bottom anges which seat against the filler strips 20 and 21, and at the sides ilanges which project over the laterally 5 extending heads 13 provided on the body posts 11.

particular construction is T-shaped. .Two laterally extending flanges 31 are provided on the arms of the U-shaped body portion-30 for seating over the edges of the panels 25.

As illustratdp, these flanges 3l are formed by bending portions of the arms of the U-shaped body memberv outwardly at substantially right angles and then doubling theml back on themselves. The nanges 31 formed in this manner have rounded edges, present a good appearance, and are resilient. The clamping members may be made from some metal such as stainless steel or aluminum which takes a good polish permit Anl ting it to be utilized as a ilnishing member.

'I'he clamping member 29 is attached to the ange of the body post 11, by means of screw bolts 32 which extend through aligned openings 1,9so,7s7

provided in the aange clamping member. Any number of screwvbolts may be provided and the ynumber employed will.

the portion vseated in the groove 28. As i1lustrated, the panel is of the proper height to swing beneath the belt rail 12. After the upper edge of the panel is drawn clear of the belt rail', the panel innathebodyataftae is lifted upwardly between the seats in the vehicle and the belt rail. y

The removal of the panel gives access to the -dented portion ofthe vehicle sheathing 10 and repairmen may hammer out dents or make other repairs that may be necessary. From the foregoing it will be obvious that the providingv of the removable panels greatly facilitates the making of repairs in the sheathing 1b and enables service stations to keep buses in good condition.

Having described my invention what I claim as, new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

'1. In a bus structure, in combination, a metal sheathing, angular posts for supporting thesheathing, said posts `comprising a head -and flange, the head seatingagainst the sheathing and being connected to it, the ange extending inwardlina nishing panel disposed parallel' to t the sheathing and abutting against the ilange of the post, and a substantially U-shaped clamping member for retaining the panel inposition,

the'clamping member enclosing the flange of the post and being detachably connected therewith to provide for the removal of the panel to gain ac.- cess to the inside of the sheathing.

2. In a bus structure, in combination. a metal sheathing, a supporting post comprising a head and an inwardly extending ange for supporting the sheathing, thehead of the post extending parallel to the sheathing, means connecting the head of the post to the sheathing, a iinishing panel extending parallel to the sheathing, a U- shaped member mounted on the flange vof the post, and oppositely extendingilange portionsformed with the vbody portion of the U-shaped member and so arranged as to engage the panel to retain it in position, the U-shaped member' and provided with inwardly projecting flanges.

an outer sheathing connected with the body posts, panels extendingy between adjacent body posts and each including an interior finish member and a filler member in engagement with the sheathing, contiguous portions of adjacent panels extending substantially to the projecting portions of the posts, and substantially U-shaped clamp members enclosing the projecting portions of the posts and having outturned flanged portions constituting resilient holding members engaging` the contiguous portions of adjacent panels.

FREDERICK E. DAYES. 

